‘Scream’ horror franchise has Michigan ties

Latest chapter of franchise out this weekend blends old with the new

This weekend marks the release of “Scream,” the fifth installment of the 25-year-old horror franchise.

For the uninitiated, the first “Scream” was released Dec. 18, 1996 and grossed $173 million against a $15 million budget. It also received critical acclaim and revitalized the horror genre, which was dormant thanks to a series of box office bombs and an influx of straight-to-video sequels to established horror franchises.

It was a combination of a whodunit mystery and dark comedy that satirized horror movie clichés.

Set in fictional Woodsboro, Calif., the masked serial killer(s) Ghostface targets Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell, “Party of Five”). Alongside Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox, “Friends”) and Dewey Riley (David Arquette, “Eight Legged Freaks”), Sidney has lived to fight again in 1997’s “Scream 2,” 2000’s “Scream 3,” 2011’s “Scream 4” and this weekend’s “Scream.” The first four films were directed by the late horror auteur Wes Craven,

creator/director of “A Night- mare on Elm Street.”

In the fifth “Scream,” a new Ghostface terrorizes Woodsboro, leaving behind a trail of death. Once again, Sidney, Gale, and Dewey must join forces to put an end to Ghostface’s murder spree.

The “Scream” franchise has its share of Michigan roots. Lansing native Matthew Lillard (“Good Girls”) appeared in the first movie. “Scream 4” was filmed in Michigan — particularly Wayne and Washtenaw Counties — in 2010 through the state’s shortlived movie tax incentive program, which Gov. Rick Snyder later eliminated.

Local 4’s Devin Scillian and former Local 4 meteorologist Kim Adams made cameos in “Scream 4” and both share fond memories of working on the film. In fact, Adams spoke the last word in the movie.

“I’m not usually the type that needs to have the last word,” she recalled. “But in this case, it was pretty cool!”

Adams spoke about meeting Craven in Ann Arbor when a local agent asked her to audition. According to Adams, people were coming in and out of the audition room in five minutes or less. However, when Craven learned she was a meteorologist who once flew with the Blue Angels (the U.S. Navy’s flight demonstration squad), it turned into a 45-minute conversation she’ll never forget.

“(Craven) told me as a young boy he was fascinated with the weather and wanted to be a pilot, but he was a sickly child that spent a lot of time in his room,” said Adams. “Long story short: I never even read for the part! Wes said, “No need, you’re definitely in this movie!’”